Our January

When 2013 came to a close, so did my 365-project.I swore I'd never do one again. I was anxious to put my camera down; perhaps it'd be slightly freeing, I thought. Then January 1st came & I needed to take a photo. I couldn't help it. As the first days of 2014 rolled by, a picture a day kept happening. It's as if the camera became an extension of myself. At some point- each day, I pick it up. I don't 'have' to, but  I want to- because my life is happening before my eyes; it's a little bit wild, rarely quiet, a lot of happy & it's ours. The best part of this adventure? We're home. My idea of a big adventure has changed- it's not big backpacks, foreign languages, new cultures & long bus rides. Now my big adventures are trips to the grocery store, juggling nursing & dinner, refereeing the boys' wrestling matches, getting three kids out the door on-time, & wondering if I'm completely screwing up my children, or setting them up to be hardworking, honest, loving, creative, respectful little (& one day big) humans. There's a time when I may have thought these adventures would seem boring & lifeless.

Today, I watch it & participate in it, & it's the best yet.

Wish You Were Here 3/52

Wish You Were Here ...virtual postcards from around the world Dear Friends, The weather here is getting stranger. Perhaps that's not the right word, but the little snow we had a week ago is now completely gone. Instead we're working towards the wettest January on record. We've been spending lots of time inside watching the rain fall, then it seems to lighten up in the afternoon- just long enough to get outside for some much needed fresh air. Every time we're outside, the kids are quick to let the chickens & ducks out to roam the yard. They love getting out in the muddy lawn; we watch them play, & monitor for eagles & neighborhood dogs. There's an eagle nest quite close to the house, we can hear them talking to each other; hopefully they don't discover we have a quick meal. Life is good. xo

The Winterless Winter

I once read an article that suggested you only talk about weather if you're bored. It probably was in Cosmo, or something; this was years ago. It always stuck with me, mostly because we always talk about weather here. 'We' as in those who live in Kodiak. Weather is such a central part of our every day- planes don't make it in & out of our island on a regular basis, which impacts a lot of lives on a regular basis. One day it's mid40s & raining, the next day it's 20 & sunny; followed by 70mph winds & rain. You just never know what you're going to it. This winter has been a little bizarre weather-wise. If I didn't have photos of us playing in the snow, I'm pretty sure I'd forget there were two snow days in the past two months. Instead, we're moving into weeks of rain. With four days left of the month, & the rain pouring hard as we speak, we may break records for the wettest one yet...& then we read online about the freezing temps elsewhere, or the drought in California. Who would've thought you'd need to escape to Alaska, to escape the cold? 'A great, great deal has been said about the weather, but very little has ever been done.' -Mark Twain

Welcome, Talvi

 

Peace

Two-&-a-half-weeks ago, my oldest turned seven. He's wild, loud, rambunctious, kind, loving & incredibly intelligent. I asked him for a few pictures, as a seven year-old. He wasn't too keen on the idea, but he obliged; this is his space- his desk, he quickly decorated with stickers & markers.

His tee-ball trophy, he received for playing a couple seasons ago; the black sticky substance on the bunkbed, that seems to perfectly hold his shrinky-dinks; his stegosaurus model (he wants to be a paleontologist); & his lego Chima- he's thoroughly obsessed with them. This is his little spot of peace.

'Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all those things & still be calm in your heart.' -unknown

Wish You Were Here 2/52

Wish You Were Here ...virtual postcards from around the world Dear Friends, We're finally enjoying some snowfall- it's been such a strange winter. Perhaps this is our start to winter, just a couple months later than usual. We're trying to fully enjoy it, hopefully getting a sledding & snowman day in soon. In other exciting news, the Seahawks won their playoff game today. Here's to another weekend of our football season (I don't know why, but I'm kind of a football fanatic). We also celebrated Ry's 7th birthday last week, with friends & family...& back to our school routine. Life is good. xo